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“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “She’s nice.”
“Do you think you want to hang out with her?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t really know her.”
“You didn’t know your other nannies either,” I pointed out. “I want you to make sure you like this lady. If you don’t, we’ll keep looking for another one.”
“Dad, we talked about ketchup,” she said with exasperation.
I laughed. She was right. I might have been pushing a little too hard. I was trying to make her like Deanna. I couldn’t explain why I was so invested in the situation. I should probably do a little self-examination on that. I supposed it was because I really wanted Lily to like Deanna. Something told me she was a good fit for Lily. I wouldn’t ever do anything about my attraction to her, but it would be nice to have a pretty smile to come home to every night.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I won’t push it. If you like her, you like her. If you don’t, that’s fine.”
“She seems nice,” she said with a shrug.
“If she gets a chance to talk with us, you’ll get a better chance to get to know her,” I said. “She mentioned we could go to the park or take a walk when she got done working if you wanted to.”
“Is she going to work here and be my nanny?”
“No.” I shook my head. “She’ll quit this job and just be your nanny.”
“Do I have to call her my nanny?” Lily asked.
“I’m sure you can call her Deanna,” I said.
“I mean, I’m too old for a nanny,” she murmured.
“You’re nine,” I reminded her. “I don’t think you’re ready for your own car. There are lots of nine-year-olds who have nannies. You can’t drive. There’s no way I’m letting you use the stove. You can’t be home alone. You’re nine. You need a nanny. We can call her a babysitter if that makes you feel better, but she’s still going to be your watcher, sitter, guardian, whatever you want to call her.”
She sighed. “Fine.”
Deanna came back to the table with two plates of food. “What are your plans for the day?” she asked.
“Dad said you want to go to the park,” Lily said.
Deanna smiled. “If you’d like. It might be easier to talk at the park. It’s a little chaotic here.”
“Does your boss know you’re entertaining a job offer while you’re on his clock?” I asked her with a small laugh.
“My boss isn’t going to know,” she said. “Not because I don’t tell him, but because he’s too busy smoking like a chimney. He spends more time smoking outside than he does in here on the floor managing his business. Our cook is back there doing the work of three people. Me and my friend Colleen are running around here acting as hostesses, bussers, and servers. He’s outside smoking and hacking. Hacking and smoking.”
I laughed. “I wonder if that’s why you’re looking for another job.”
“Wonder no more.” She grinned. “I can tell you that’s exactly why I’m looking for another job. I never want to refill a coffee cup or serve burgers and fries—except if I’m cooking for one of my charges.”
“Do you know how to make cheeseburgers?” Lily asked her.
“Yep.” Deanna nodded. “I can even make French fries from actual potatoes.”
Lily looked like she just announced she hung the moon. “You can?”
“I can.” Deanna winked. “Maybe I can show you one of these days.”
That made Lily smile. “Okay.”
“Okay, you two enjoy your lunch,” Deanna said. “I’ll check back in a little bit. Don’t forget to try the ketchup and tartar sauce. I think you’re really going to like it.”
“I will,” Lily said.
